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Season 2- Episode 18- Get Well Big Mike (Premiership Round 8)
25 Plays6 years ago
Quite an interesting weekend in the Prem this past weekend. Your favorite rugby guys from the US are back with more entertainment for your ears. This week we talk a little bit about the best players across both formats of fantasy rugby. We discuss the unfortunate incident that happened on the pitch at Allianz, recap all the weekend's action and of course we take a look forward to round 5 of the Champions Cup.
Super Rugby is starting soon and with that of course Fantasy Super Rugby is too. We have our official podcast league open for the draft format. E-mail us or hit us up on twitter if you want in.
Have a question about your lineup on as the clock ticks down for game week start? Ask us questions via Twitter: Jarrod- jdyke8man & Ben- admrablsnackbar, or by using #AskTFRY. Send us your thoughts for the show and questions for upcoming shows via e-mail fantasyrugbypodcast@gmail.com. Of course we welcome feedback via e-mail, twitter or by rating/reviewing the pod on Apple Podcast.
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Transcript
Introductions and Health Updates
00:00:07
Speaker
Hey everybody, how's it going? It is the fancy rugby angst. My name's Jared Dyke. I'm Ben Glaser. I am alive and I am well. Welcome into the pod. Could be back, could be healthy again. A week later, a week much more healed. I have a tiny bit of a cough, but it is not nearly to the level that it was last week where I felt like I was going to die every time I coughed.
00:00:28
Speaker
That's helpful.
Podcast Availability and Introduction
00:00:29
Speaker
Yeah, it's good to live. Yeah, I like living too. I don't know about you, man. All right, with that, fucking A, let's crack into these things. I haven't had one of these in a while. All right, hopefully this doesn't blow up on you. Oh, yeah, open with caution here. Yay. All right, we're good. Yeah, that could have been terrible. Had a little shake up, shall we say, on the way over. So that could have gone poorly. Yes. Everybody make sure that you're checking us out on Apple Podcast, Google Play, Spotify.
00:00:57
Speaker
Tune in all your favorite places to find your podcast. Yes That feels good. Hell. Yeah, that's an I have I haven't
Rugby Mag Hiatus and Player Lineup Discussion
00:01:05
Speaker
forgotten how to do this. Apparently
00:01:09
Speaker
excellent um so obviously we had our we had we've had we were done with our little period of uh prem prem play so rugby mag it takes a little hiatus for a bit but uh we love playing obviously and it's the one thing that the rugby mag can't tell you is when somebody's been dropped from the lineup that day no it was there were a couple of them that happened this weekend uh Sinclair for the Quinn's uh Sean Maitland for the Saracens it was a
00:01:37
Speaker
Unfortunate surprise, that's why you have your bench. It is. That's why you try and have a full bench that's starting so you can have something like that. And it's why they have vice captain now instead of just the captain. Yeah, totally makes sense. But obviously, those situations being the rare exception. I feel bad for whoever had Maitland as their captain. Oh, yeah. Yeah.
Fantasy Rugby Strategies and Player Performance
00:01:59
Speaker
Insink is their vice captain. I have an FRD. Yeah. Well, there might be one team out there. I don't know.
00:02:05
Speaker
I've just yeah odds i'm just playing the odds here that there was somebody out there there might be there there may just be in that unfortunate soul got really rough on that one but outside of those unfortunate circumstances
00:02:17
Speaker
The upgrades are definitely worth it, but you get all the numbers too, though. We've been looking at where everything's coming from, whether it's they're attacking or they're defending that they're getting most of their points from. That made my decision when it came to starting Lewis, Sam Lewis. I'm sorry.
00:02:35
Speaker
Or Ted Hill yeah, well not Ted Hill but just Sam Lewis in general, okay, I was looking between him and say like Phillips or some other people I've been looking around and and I saw Lewis had his his defensive numbers are very good
00:02:51
Speaker
I remember correctly and I was like, okay. Well, he might not make many offensive or many attacking points against the saris, but He's gonna be on defense a lot. He did all right. So yeah, what do you end up with? I Have the number here 16 not great Ted Hill actually turned out all right, though. Yeah. Okay. Yeah, he ends up with 31 Wow, so
00:03:13
Speaker
I had him, I squinted as I put him in my lap. I'm like, this is the right idea. I really don't have another option, so fuck it. And it worked. Worked better than some of the other options that I threw in there. Yeesh. Yeesh. Yeah, so make sure you're doing that. And also, obviously, check out our friend George, Fancy Rugby Geek.
Gratitude to Media and Fun Experiences
00:03:35
Speaker
If you're sick of hearing us babble, go read his stuff. It's an easy read, and it's stuff that's very, very helpful. He definitely loves these two formats that both Ben and I play. So definitely go have a look at him as well. He's a good lad on top of that. Excellent. Awesome person. Buy him a coffee. Seriously, buy him a coffee. If you buy him a coffee, you end up beating him the next week.
00:04:01
Speaker
there you go maybe that's just me i don't know oops uh good karma bad karma i don't know what to tell you but yeah it'll do um a big thank you to sam roberts and the official frd podcast for having ben and i on this week uh just kind of came together and like
00:04:19
Speaker
Day. Yeah, like 24 hours. I don't even know about that one. Yeah Those of you that don't know Sam Roberts is a big media I'm not big me but he's a member of the meet rugby media over in the UK and He clearly enjoys the hell out of this podcast because you could tell he was having fun He was having a great time. So we were on there with him and I remember Michael's last game but London Irish blogger, right? it was it was a great time Ben and I both had a lot of fun and Sam we really appreciate you and
00:04:47
Speaker
doing that obviously George had the hookup on that one FRG thanks buddy for hooking us up with that that was uh that was a boatload of fun so yeah and it came together uh quickly and and efficiently and and it was a blast to uh to be a part of that yeah although you showed your age not knowing how to do skype out of boy he's never done it out of boy way to go um so yeah big big thanks to those guys for uh having us on and uh we come back anytime you want yep it was really good
Upcoming Rugby Competitions and Social Engagement
00:05:16
Speaker
Um, so we have two competitions that are starting up real soon here. Um, we met, we've mentioned them in passing, uh, a lot in the last couple of weeks, but, uh, attention needs to be paid to these, uh, pretty much from here forth, uh, super rugby. We will be doing, um, we'll be doing a TRM league in an FRD league. Um, I've already sent out invites to the four or the three, I guess I'm the fourth, uh,
00:05:42
Speaker
The three other the other three other teams one of them happens to be sitting across from me that wanted in from last year If you want to get into the league, please let me know Hit me up on Twitter and or fancy review podcast at gmail.com if you want to get in on the TRM league just you know hit me up on Twitter and we'll I'll put the the league out there on my Twitter anyway, and then I'm sure we'll do the same so you can find the link there and
00:06:06
Speaker
As soon as six nations gets fired up. We'll we'll get that link out there as well We had a lot of fun with the six nations last year. Um, so we'll be doing We'll have a look out for the for a preview show from us And we'll probably bring our old friend james back and get him going on it You we know how much he loves to talk about England and and the likes and the likes on his trips to france and all that stuff so look forward to a few more of those fun stories from james in the next couple weeks here as we uh as we get raring to go for six nations and super rugby
00:06:36
Speaker
Um, I had a quote. So
Fantasy Rugby Analysis of Top Players
00:06:41
Speaker
here we go. That's what I was gonna do. So I had something I wanted to do and I just, I was just trying to register it in my brain and I figured it out. The brain farts are still there, unfortunately, but that, that I can't blame on the illness. Those, those were in here long before. So there are, across both formats, there are two names.
00:07:06
Speaker
Just two? Yeah, two, three. Three names that are in the top ten in both formats. Any guesses as to who they are?
00:07:17
Speaker
That's a very good quote. Okay. I'm going to say Nair Voro. He's only top in TRM. TRM. Yeah. Unfortunately. Not in FRD. Actually FRD. Excuse me. Sorry. Yeah. We both got that switch. Yeah. He's only top in draft. Up there in draft. He's third in draft. Wow. Yep. So then.
00:07:46
Speaker
That's that's gonna be a tough question common sheet II He is there in draft as well, but not not only He just he's not a big point score there. He's a good point score, but he's not big point score in rugby mag Then I am hold on let me think of a Couple I mean a couple of names will be more obvious when they hit you I'm sure like I
00:08:14
Speaker
I don't know how many points Ben Morgan has. Who's put together 50 point weeks at least once in TRM this year? Well, it's hard because I mean, you're looking at like somebody like Harry Thacker, but he's not going to be an FRD. No, and the official front row is terrible. Yeah, he'll be in TRM, but he won't be an FRD. And he is top 10 in TRM. He's come back. He's come back from his fourth start. Well, I guess Ben Earl then. It was an obvious one. Number one and both. And.
00:08:45
Speaker
Who else would be on there? Was Piatow up on there? Number two on FRD, number 10 in TRM. OK. Yep. And then my number three is going to be a bit of a head scratcher for you, I bet. Or the third one, I should say. Yeah. Harrison? Tomana Harrison? Yeah. TRM does well, FRD? Nope. OK. Well, I'm just going to be spinning my wheels here. That would be the Bass Fly half, Reese Priestlin.
00:09:14
Speaker
Oh, really? Wow. Number one to five in draft and number nine in TRM. All right. He's he's obviously been a good addition. I have been riding him for actually hold on. Oh, I made a cut one off. So Pia Tal's nine.
00:09:35
Speaker
So let's have a look. I'm just looking at it now. Priestland's number eight. And I'm looking at TRM. Priestland's eight. Peter's nine. Robson and then Louise. Yeah, I haven't. I didn't. Yeah, didn't add those up.
00:09:52
Speaker
Um, but yeah, so I mean the the number 10 didn't change anything it was You know guys like louise and sam simmons where they got added, but they're not up there in both. So yeah, um, if you have stock in ben earl, uh, reese priestlin or charles be etel. Congratulations. You've done you've done well They're both scoring a good clips. Uh, reese priestlin's not going anywhere charles be etel's not going anywhere over the six nations bureau
00:10:17
Speaker
Better or might that would be uh, I'd be uh, a betting if I was a betting man i'd say he probably is going somewhere Um, i'm sure he will get a phone call from eddie jones in the not too distant future here. I can't imagine that he wouldn't It's he's his on form alone, right? It's too hard to pass up
00:10:37
Speaker
Yeah, you just look at him and you just he's you know, and he's got all the tools. Yeah, he's fast. He's strong. He's a great carrier. He gets turnovers. It's like, I mean, he doesn't need to be as we're not saying he's he's going to be get the call up and oh, you're right in the starting lineup. Oh, hell no. But he's he's he's definitely one of the reserves or maybe.
00:10:56
Speaker
Uh a guy that they they hold for for some of the you know, say italy or right? Yeah, he's not um Yeah, he's he's not somebody that's just like getting it all of a sudden become a starter It's hard to knock off guys like curry and sam underhill at this point. Yeah, especially curry curry has had such a great Great rise. Um, you know pick a curry as well as on that one, right? So
00:11:22
Speaker
So yeah, it'll be, I would wager that you'll see Banner all called up soon here. All right, so let's go. Let's go to the games.
Leicester vs Bristol Game Breakdown
00:11:33
Speaker
Sale 48, Quinn's 10. This was a shock for me. I mean, good on sale for rocking up and finally putting in a goddamn performance where they needed to because I wasn't, you know, Quinn's kind of sputtered a little bit, but they do have the ability to play some really good rugby.
00:11:51
Speaker
uh sale would like to say the same about sale like they're they're these they're two teams that this should have been an even match uh these these are teams that I would think at their you know you would think that at uh sales best and Quinn's worst it still wouldn't be a 40-point match it would be more like a 10-point match you know these these are not wildly different now squads as far as you know what what their their level of play is um
00:12:21
Speaker
But, fuck, I was unfortunately unable to see this, to give this a watch, but I, shit, that is a shock to see that. Yeah, it was, so Quinn's capitalized on one sale mistake, and that's where their try came from. I believe it was Ibitoya that ended up getting over. And really, they didn't look like they were going to get out of their own way after that.
00:12:44
Speaker
Marler had kind of a hammerhead yellow card as Marler sometimes does. As he does. Yeah, it looks innocuous as hell, but we'll talk about innocuous later on. Oh, yeah, we will. But it didn't look like anything, but when you start putting your fists and your forearm near somebody's head,
00:13:05
Speaker
Referees are going to take action, and that's just how it is. And they've been very good about that this year. They've been good. They've been consistent. The line has been drawn in the sand all night. Absolutely. Yeah, there's pretty much a zero tolerance towards the head. Whether you're trying to be cheeky and be a wind-up machine, which we know Joe Marlar is very good at.
00:13:23
Speaker
or if you're being a complete dickhead, it's either one. You can also do that well, although he's mostly just been a wind-up machine. He hasn't been a complete dickhead. I say that with the utmost respect for Joe Marler. We both put him in our team last year or last week, so remember that. There's no disrespect to Joe. And then they turned it on. Akavran and Mirva end up leaving this game rather early.
00:13:51
Speaker
And after scoring a try even. So they had it, Ben Renzberg ended up getting over kind of late, which is what it is. Ashley just kind of strolled over at one point. There was a point where it looked like the Quinn's might have quit.
00:14:06
Speaker
But there was a little incident and it was a try to, I wanna say, I don't remember which one it was, it was right when all the, there was a little brouhaha that happened afterwards. And surprise, surprise, Rob Weber's tried, that's what it was. It was a pick and go, but there was a little bit of RG, bargy. Marlon Yard was definitely the dickhead in this one, I'm sorry. And this is his old club.
00:14:35
Speaker
nice things were not said when he was on his way out the door because apparently he's not a well-liked person and You know for certain people on in at Quinn's to say that he's not a well-liked person tells me this guy's probably an ass Yeah, they just a well just a little bit. Yeah, they have they have enough of asses on that team Yeah, I mean as any team does Then and you know those clubs are pretty good about keeping things in-house. Mm-hmm
00:14:58
Speaker
So, yeah, after Weber's try, Chris Robshaw was on the ground and Marlon Yard tried to drop a shoulder on him late and not there. Ross Chisholm ended up being, or James Chisholm, ended up being also a little bit guilty of doing a little extras after. But Simmons grabs Yard and ragdolled him out of that area.
00:15:21
Speaker
Like he saw that happen with Rob Shaw and tossed him. And I was like, oh, that looks bad. But then I realized what on the replay, I realized what Yard had done. And I was like, oh, that's that's that's nasty. That's what that. And so, yeah, both Yard and Simmons get carted. But this was well after the game was decided, you know, long before Quinn's basically we're just not going to get anything out of it, which is unfortunate. So a little frustration boiling over at the same time. Don't dismiss Marlon Yarr for being the dick he is.
00:15:51
Speaker
sale do get over the line and they are finally trying to write the ship at least. We'll see how this table plays. We talked about it yesterday on the other pod. There's a lot to be played for in the middle of the table right now. There really is. There's a lot of movement that can be made in a week.
00:16:06
Speaker
Right, I mean right now there you look from I mean shit from number two Saints down to number eight Quinn's there. That's seven points. That's the difference Wow, so two bad matches put you in real trouble Yeah of not one not making the quarterfinal but to not making Europe right here not making champions come so that was pretty wild On to Saturday. This game was played a little early
00:16:30
Speaker
in Leicester because it was, they were trying to avoid unnecessary traffic jams with Leicester City who were playing an FA Cup game down the road.
Saracens vs Worcester Match Highlights
00:16:39
Speaker
Leicester 31, Bristol 18. This is a Leicester team that showed up and this is a Bristol team that probably did not. No, they definitely did not. Except for that like 10 minute period where they scored the two tries. That was about it. I felt
00:16:50
Speaker
So so I want to get into this because um, I I didn't appreciate the way that game was was refereed. Um, and I I know it's an easy complaint however I thought that the the two yellow cards against bristol in the first half They were both soft yellow cards. They probably were and I I feel like
00:17:13
Speaker
It should have only been one yellow card, essentially. Like the referee should have been like, especially for the second one with the deliberate knock. Yeah. Yeah. I was, I was a little not sure about that. So I just didn't appreciate that there were two.
00:17:30
Speaker
Yellow and that really that was that was what changed the match because then Johnny may go right got over soon after that right and then right after that Ford gets over and That really stuff I mean not only that did did Bristol
00:17:46
Speaker
keep them out for the entirety of that first yellow card. They almost scored a try. They were they were they were so fucking close to the line. And then to come, you know, they get the second yellow and they can only defend with 13 and then again with 14 for that for so long before you kind of fall apart a little bit. And that's when May and then four got over. And I think when you're a referee, you have to take that into account and say, you know, yellows, it's one thing to give out yellows when a team is playing flat out dirty.
00:18:16
Speaker
Neither of those were dirty there there were clear especially on the the yellow for the the high tackle I don't remember who Jordan Lee, but it Yeah, we talked about it. The tolerance is zero it is so it's kind of it, you know But there's still the mitigating factors of the guy was fault like he not he had knocked the ball He dropped the ball and he was sliding or was was falling to get it. So right there There's a mitigating factor that generally most referees see that and they're saying oh
00:18:44
Speaker
Okay, that's a mitigating factor penalty only. You see that constantly. For him to be like, oh, this mitigating factor means it's a yellow. It certainly wasn't a red card offense at all. If the mitigating factor makes it a yellow, I don't understand that. That should have been penalty only.
00:19:03
Speaker
And then to then turn around and in a play that wasn't clearly wasn't a scoring play, although it was dangerous. There were players there just to say, you know what? No, he was, he was just going for a pick and couldn't quite, couldn't quite hang on. Um, oopsie penalty only, you know, at some point let's, let's, you know, make it a somewhat more of a fair match.
00:19:25
Speaker
Mm-hmm. Yeah, and you know, it's it's unfortunate. It was unfortunate But I mean that's not to say that that that you know Bristol shit the bet they did Don't don't don't mix it about that right now. I'm not I'm not blaming the ref for the for the for the loss I'm just speaking that as a You know as how I would like to see officiating done I guess I
00:19:47
Speaker
Yeah, that's no, that's not unfair to say, you know, it's okay to say that, you know, maybe this should have been a little bit better for this that whatever, that's fine. But yeah, there was there was definitely a there was more bite for the Tigers. I'll give them that. They took advantage of the situations that they should and haven't necessarily
00:20:07
Speaker
In recent times, so you gotta give them you'll give them that yeah sure this is so as much as I should on Lester This is what I want to see from them. Yeah, you know I want to see some fight before the whistle I want to see you know some some some chippiness with rugby or some you know some focus on the rugby not chippiness with you know each other yeah, like you have an avid chip on your shoulder and and and put it on the scoreboard rather than
00:20:37
Speaker
You know, I mean, but so in a nutshell, though, we saw we did see what Bristol are about with I was at the Piers O'Connor tribe. I believe Sheedy bringing it out from the 22. Not nobody's thinking that he's going to do anything with this other than hoof it. And yeah, he hoofs it. He and his and we've got we've got nobody back there. Yeah. And they're just like, you know,
00:21:03
Speaker
from their own end. This is what Pat Lamb does. They play from their own end all the time. So that one try definitely tells you that Bristol were trying to be Bristol, but the yellow card just kind of threw them off. I can't believe I'm under that ball. I still can't believe I'm under that ball. Ridiculous.
00:21:18
Speaker
Yeah, it was it was it was a brilliant try individual after effort from
Player Safety and Random Injuries Discussion
00:21:23
Speaker
the two of them. So it was I you got to give them the hustle at the very least. But unfortunately, it wasn't enough. Lester take care of business 31 18 and they are trying to get themselves away from the Saracens who to say talked. Worcester is probably an understatement. I don't know what to call that.
00:21:45
Speaker
It's a hammering. It was what, 10 tries? Something like that? Yeah, 10 tries. Yeah. That's not a good feeling. I mean, if you're Worcester, that is not a good feeling. Yeah, Fido gets over to say grace, but cheese. That's it. That's really it. And that was an individual effort on his part. It was. Really.
00:22:03
Speaker
But there was not a whole lot of team stuff going on there. I mean, no, no, we are no who guard, which scratched my head. Like maybe Alan Salomon's was just throwing in the towel in this one. I think that was the case. I think he was he was like, we're taking the L. I don't think he wanted this. No, I don't think I can completely demoralize your team. That is the risk you run when you're basically waving the white flag and saying,
00:22:25
Speaker
All right, we're probably not going to win this thing. So let's dial it back with our lineup. But this is the this is the negative that you can have. You can have an absolute shit show that gets thrown at you. And it's like, oh, my God, this was bad. You know, that Saracens did whatever they felt like, basically.
00:22:40
Speaker
Right. I mean, Sam was saying that that it was like a just a clinical, like anybody could have scored from any at any point in any in any phase that could have gone for it could have gone for a try. Absolutely. For Saris. And yeah, but I mean, it was it was gorgeous to watch. You're a Worcester fan. This was terrible. But if you're a neutral or a Saris fan, you're about this.
00:23:06
Speaker
But let's let's let's go to that. I'm gonna pick up what you Put down a little bit earlier with the innocuousness Because oh That what we saw was something you never want to see in any sport. Nope
00:23:22
Speaker
But it looked like it was nothing. And except Fatilofo just didn't, not only did he not get up, he just didn't, he was stuck in a weird position. He wasn't moving. He wasn't moving. That was terrifying. And then when he, when they, they went and they, they turned him and you could see them holding his leg and his legs kind of drooping. You're like, there's no, there's nothing holding them. That was really, really scary stuff.
00:23:44
Speaker
That was what I was looking for, to tell me something. Something good, at least. And it did not tell me anything good. No. Yeah. So our thoughts are with Michael Faglielova and his family and Worcester Rugby, because that is a scary, scary situation that nobody wants to see. I don't care what the match is.
00:24:04
Speaker
I I really don't you know, I there there are players in this universe that I hate I still wouldn't wish this on though, you know, that's that's just terrible No, you don't want it. You just don't yeah, it's not nothing under that's worth it as far as you know No, not liking a person or whatever. But no, this is It was it was it was you know, it was innocuous thing, you know, he probably caught a bit of a knee I think yeah
00:24:29
Speaker
And just going low and just in the right spot. And it was, you know, like you said, innocuous as hell. And, you know, it's it was really scary to have something so, you know, nothing about it. You would see it in 99 times in a match. And for this to be the result of this particular one is just awful. Yeah. So, yeah, we we definitely have our thoughts and, you know, our sympathies are to Michael and his family.
00:24:57
Speaker
Apparently he's had surgery and it went well. Hopefully he's back on his feet soon and we'll take it from there. We'll take it from there. We'll take it from there. I'd be happy to see him back on his feet and we'll start with that. And then another innocuous injury.
00:25:12
Speaker
News, I guess for that that that Connor Carey the injury in the middle in a scrum and went right for his leg or his knee Yeah, whatever happened it was immediate yeah, I think it popped yeah, which sucks cuz that's if that's your Achilles you're done right that really sucks so Sorry to you there. Mr. Carey that that really sucks, man. I
00:25:36
Speaker
And that's not the way, you know, it's just a shame because the Sarries weren't overly physical. They weren't like, I mean, then they've played some physical matches. We've seen them beat the shit out of some teams. Yeah, this was a wide open. Yeah. And and to sort of see two significant injuries for Worcester too. That's that's that's a shame because I wanted, you know, I would want them to be able to bounce back and have their their guys and be at full strength next time they go out.
00:26:02
Speaker
Right. No, especially after something like this. So, uh, yeah, uh, we, we hope Worcester, those players end up being okay. Um, but yeah, at the same time, it's, it is unfortunate to see the, the incense we saw. So how about Roddy Sagan though? Rocking up, not even on the roster until he wasn't even in the team. Yeah. He wasn't even in the team and he decides, uh, I
00:26:24
Speaker
I got no problem. I'll get two tries. Yeah, no big deal. Yeah, it killed me because I had Shawn Maitland in FRD and my matchup I lost by three and a half. Officially I lost by three and a half and I ate the Tom Collins red card and if Shawn Maitland played I still would have won. Yeah.
00:26:43
Speaker
Uh, you know and I I made some changes that were Probably that probably would have been head-scratching to most people but it they actually worked out. Although having kobis rhinoc helps but Yeah, the the maintland I got the news too late so I couldn't do anything about it. I was like Yeah, well that was another instant instance of we turned on the broadcast and
00:27:08
Speaker
Yeah, that's the first time we hear the news. Right. Sucks. Yeah. Not all of us are in the press box. We don't know any way that does that, do we?
00:27:28
Speaker
Oh, man, damn it. Yeah, that is very true. Although I'd happily sign up to be in the box. Oh, absolutely. No, no, no, no. That's something that's an experience I would like. I'm just saying that we don't get that news early. We just get that news when it pops on the broadcast. It's far too late for us to do anything about it. Right. One incident I do want to talk about, and then we'll move on.
00:27:52
Speaker
We talked about Roddy and then just the the feral kick pass. Obviously, it was a penalty advantage. So shot to nothing. But he knows he just needs to get it wide somehow. And this is he's like, screw it. This is the only way I can get this out there without, you know, really fucking this up. So got it out there. There were three guys basically hanging out in the low. Right. Well, whichever one of you wants to try, you go. And that was good. The communication. I don't remember who was who is it might have been laws who was right inside Roddy.
00:28:19
Speaker
And he was like, no, that's yours. Have fun. And then you go, kid. Yeah. And that was it was like, if you catch it, you're in. Yeah, that's great. But as long as the kick didn't completely wasn't completely shit, it was fine. So 62 to five Saracens over Worcester Saracens obviously are showing that they are not going down without a fight. And as long as that they put in performances like this, I feel confident that they won't. Right.
00:28:47
Speaker
Gloucester and Bath. This was a good match up until... God, what minute was it that kind of just turned around? It's like about 55, 60. Yeah, the Grubler try. His first touch of the ball, he ends up falling over the line. Yeah, 57 minutes, yeah. Bath showed up, but
00:29:12
Speaker
Here's the one problem when they pointed out in the broadcast bath are having a real tough time getting over the line Yeah, and you know Reese Priestlin was keeping them in this cuz that's what he's been doing his whole that's what he's been doing this whole season Which is also why he's been really valuable in both fancy formats But yeah, he's really been keeping them in the live matches all season They have to find a way to get tries over the line because if they don't they will be they won't be in Champions Cup next year That's for damn sure. No, and if they continue to
00:29:40
Speaker
just find ways to screw it up, they'll be in even bigger trouble. So they have to they have to find ways to get get scores. They really do. I thought, and man, the match, Jake, Jake Pledry. Why is he not playing more? I don't know. But what a luxury to have him as a reserve as monstrous as he is. You know, they talked about he's not necessarily a poacher, but man, that man in the loose is terrifying.
00:30:08
Speaker
And but that's what I don't get because that's what Gloucester does he plays right into what they really want to do and yet They they always put you know They always end up putting some thumper at six and it's like yeah. Yeah, and that that's fine, but
00:30:26
Speaker
Shit if you're if you're your your style of play is is wide open Why would you not have you know and you have ben morgan? You don't need two thumpers. You need runners because that's what you do. You're gonna need a runner You give me ackerman paledry and and morgan and i'm i'm gonna be Just fine. I don't I mean no disrespect to clark But if i'm if i'm picking three out of those those available options, uh, he is on the bench. Yeah. No, uh, if
00:30:52
Speaker
I have my ideal Gloucester back row. It includes Piledry Ackerman and Ben Morgan. No doubt. No doubt in my mind. There's no batting on that. So I just don't understand the
00:31:03
Speaker
I wonder if game time is factoring in right now to, we're only a third of the way, that was the thing. At this point in the season, we're usually about halfway. We're only a third of the way through the damn season. That's the pain in the ass of it. Yeah, that is the pain in the ass of it. Gloucester here, they're in third place right now with four losses.
00:31:25
Speaker
Hopefully that they don't add to that total to anytime soon. It's just it's just kind of shocking that that they you know What are they what are they resting him for because they're gonna they're gonna lose him for six nations Yes, yeah, Italy's picking up the phone and calling him for sure, right? so so I Don't know if why would you rest him now exactly? Oh
00:31:44
Speaker
I don't know. I wouldn't be surprised if this month you see a little bit more of a run for him. Yeah. And then Jason Woodward returned with a vengeance. Looked like he had missed a beat. Yeah. Cipriani was not super duper Cipriani this game. Missed a couple of kicks. Made the game closer for a while at least. He's been weird this year. I don't know what to do. Because the thing is that he hasn't been bad sips.
00:32:12
Speaker
too much. He just hasn't been good sips. It's weird. He's usually one of these like very, very hot, very, very cold. And he's kind of lukewarm. Yeah, just a bit. Which I'm I'm puzzled. Right. No, I definitely agree with that. Willie Hines continues to pick up where he left off after last season. He might be on the Six Nations squad again. Who knows? There's a lot of guys that won in that squad that are playing nine.
00:32:42
Speaker
Um, you know, this is i'd be surprised He's a little on the old side and and and I really do think that england are going to go young um, I you know Convention always is something that eddie jones just puts at the middle finger too, which sucks. Yeah, so You know the first six nations after I woke up is usually a good time to experiment like france are doing Yes, I see a lot of new names on france's team or young names on france's team
00:33:09
Speaker
20 uncapped players. I think it was that and that's that's good get them in there again Get them going get them in the system get them get them capped, right? You know I'd like to I would like to see that personally for England So Heinz hopefully is someone who stays behind not me. I'm not saying that for Heinz obviously It's not like we hate Willie Heinz. No, no, no, it's nothing personal against. We had love fucking Willie Heinz. Yeah, but uh, I
00:33:35
Speaker
Yeah, the likes of a guy like Ben Spencer would probably be somebody that I would hopefully see in there as opposed to as opposed to Willie Hines and again. Oh, the little baby face. I would love to see that. Yeah, I would love to see it. I would too. I would too. I'd be happy with the kid if you got there. Gloucester 29, Bath 15, Gloucester are hanging on to a semifinal place at this point, which is great for them, but they they got a lot work to do just the same.
Exeter vs London Irish Tactical Analysis
00:34:03
Speaker
And then the first game on Sunday, which started out to be a complete tonking, and then I had a couple of rain farts. London Irish 28, Exeter 45. Yeah.
00:34:18
Speaker
I can imagine that as well as they played in the first half, which was pretty good. Irish played really good up until probably the last 10 minutes where they kind of opened it up and Dennis Cowendicki, Devoto, Sam Hill, all got over in the last like 10, 20 minutes. Other than that, I would imagine that Exo would feel pretty satisfied with the way they played in that half.
00:34:44
Speaker
Or London, I'm sorry, would feel pretty satisfied with the way they played in that half. The young man, Belgium Tuatakaloa, got over and he looks like he's going to be every bit the part that was hyped when he signed. So I'll look forward to that. Maybe he ends up in one of my fancy teams. And since I mentioned him in the other place, what about Ollie Hassell Collins? Oh, what a...
00:35:10
Speaker
What a beautiful individual ever. I think there's still defenders falling down behind him now today. Your ankles are still on that line right there, dude, just FYI. They're kind of cemented in there. Yeah, he definitely made some guys look silly on that try.
00:35:25
Speaker
No way it looked like he should have got away and then all of a sudden he's scoring a try I was like he should have been in touch. Yeah at the minimum Drive him into touch, but nope he Brilliant effort. I would have met if I was Rob Baxter and I'm looking for something to kind of like hang my hat on for this game It's not anything good. It's it's that they let up and they gave up two yellow cards that were I
00:35:48
Speaker
Kind of silly both were intentional knocks And they were really really easy ones that they probably could have avoided like
00:35:57
Speaker
It was instinct reactions on both guys' part, I think it was. Devoto and Woodburn. Devoto, yeah. Woodburn was first, just like up in the air. He's like, oh, the pass was going beyond him. So he's like, oh, I'm trying. Oh, shit. I am in trouble. And then Devoto, I think he was going in for the tackle and then changed his mind and went for the ball and went for the ball. And yeah, it was it looked pretty bad. Neither one of them were awarded as a penalty try, which was correct.
00:36:25
Speaker
A note on referees, I will say. I actually tweeted it out not too long ago. The two referees that made me tear what little hair I have out.
00:36:38
Speaker
I'm not as bald as Ben, by the way, just remember that. The two referees that make me tear my hair out are Matt Carley and Tom Foley. They're both veteran referees that are poor with consistency, and we'll talk about Matt Carley in a little bit, and they're poor with their accuracy as well, in my opinion.
00:37:01
Speaker
They don't manage the game well, either. I don't think so. You know, they're they're they're a little French esque where they where they kind of back down to challenges from players. It's like, no, no, no. Put them in their place and they won't do that shit like Nigel Owens. You're in trouble with him. You're in. You're getting called into the headmaster's office. You're getting called into the principal's office with him.
00:37:23
Speaker
So you won't screw with him until you've really just had a complete brain fart. But these two guys, players will fuck with these two guys all day long. And the good part of this is I believe Chris Offord Lee is better than them. He's a little younger, so he has a few mistakes still in his locker, but I still like him a little bit better than those guys. So that's my opinion on the referees in the league.
00:37:48
Speaker
Dixon's a a new referee, but he's also a former player so he understands the game much much better And he understands what the players are looking for from him, right? Yeah He he appreciates that the players want to hear from him a little bit more often and want consistency. Mm-hmm, you know, so uh Just that's my note on referees. I'm not trying to shit on anybody too hard. But at the same time I totally am This
00:38:12
Speaker
It's two guys that um for me just don't have an excuse anymore They're out of excuses because they're old enough and they're they've been in the league long enough They should know my problem with with foley is that he has moments where you're just like yes This is what I want from you. This is this is refer This is this is a top level like this is high level refereeing. This is getting a world cup final level refereeing right, but that's like
00:38:37
Speaker
10 minutes You get about 10 minutes of that minutes here 10 minutes there and the rest of the time you're Yeah, you're inconsistent. You're near all that shit. So The the the potential is there for Foley which is why it's all that much more disappointing that he's not what he could be Fair point Yeah, two more notes and we'll move on same. Hello. Hello
00:38:58
Speaker
Where you been, dude? I think he's jealous of brother Johnny making all the headlines for Exeter lately, so he decided to step up and show himself some, show himself up pretty well. Two tries. One at the beginning of the second half to, that pretty much sealed it, besides that and I think it was the eventual steam penalty that they put over to just kind of put the game to bed in terms of whether or not Exeter was going to win this thing. But yeah, he played really well.
00:39:27
Speaker
uh, storming through the line with them. And then, um, I noticed that, uh, I'll give Baxter credit on this one. He, he made changes early in that half and realizing I've probably got this in the bag. So he brought on to Tawani real quick for Kevin Dickie. Cause these guys got a big game coming up this weekend. Yeah, they, they, they needed the rest. Um, you know, and Joe Simmons didn't touch the field. Yeah.
00:39:52
Speaker
At all right, so it was yeah, I'll give him credit. He he brought the guys on ones. They'll saw the field pretty quick Mm-hmm give us a comic songs. He saw the field for a little bit Yeah, he brought the right guys on at the right time Stu Townsend into playing a good majority of the second half over Nick white and
00:40:10
Speaker
So I'll give him credit. He recognized all right. We got this in the bag. We have five points I need to get some of these guys rest. Yeah, cuz he's got a big game Yeah, I mean he took and he took off his props or you took off Where was it? They took off Hepburn pretty quick pretty quick second-hand. Yeah. Yeah Pierretta was just gonna be what it is Unfortunately, Harry Williams is gonna miss this week too. Yeah, that's just how it goes. That's what happens when you don't come off the bench There was no reason
00:40:38
Speaker
Like I get it. You want to defend your teammates, but there's 14 of the dudes out there that are going to defend him. Chill out. Stay on the bench. I'm sure he got a good ass ripping from Baxter on that one. Yeah. I'm sure he took it pretty well because he looked pretty. He looked, he knew he'd done done fucked up. So, um, yeah.
00:40:55
Speaker
Especially not with a yellow on you Because cuz yeah, he gave him the red but that wasn't there wasn't a second yellow It was just a no get the fuck out. You're red. Yeah, you're on the bed And he and but Barnes could have easily just said all right. Well, you're getting a yellow too. So that'd be a red tarte Anyway, right, but he didn't he just went straight red. Yeah. Yeah, that's not don't do shit when you're on a yellow Yeah iris 28 iris 28 exit or 45 exit are top of the table as you'd expect and
00:41:20
Speaker
Yeah. Was 31 North Hampton 35. What a doozy was this one. My goodness. Number one, give credit to Jacob Umaga the last few weeks. He's he stepped up and played a lot better than for Was. Was needed him desperately to play better, especially with so having a couple of infections on the innards, which is not fun to deal with at all. Yeah, I can tell you, I can vouch for that.
00:41:51
Speaker
So he played a little bit better, but having Jimmy Gopreth is such a luxury for him to still be able to play as well as he's played at his age. I'm not saying he's old. He's old for a rugby player, though. Believe me, I'm only a few years behind him, I know. But so let's just go to...
00:42:13
Speaker
the unfortunate incident of Collins and Reinach both getting yellow cards, cards real quick and in succession, which gave was the momentum that they really needed to at least try and have a shot at this. You know, Northampton looked like for all reason they were going to be in control. Tamana Harrison was just causing trouble, as was Reinach. So what else is new?
00:42:34
Speaker
Tom would capitalize on a block kick in the second half to Really what looked like seal it for Northampton, but then they had a few hiccups Tom Collins got Minazzi got over and then Tom Collins got her got a red for just plain old being dumb you know really not not going for the ball not realizing what the fuck he was doing and all of a sudden running into Jacob in the air and taking him out and
00:43:02
Speaker
you know, sucks when you get a concussion and you get up from getting checked from your concussion and you're in a red card, but it was the right decision. So you got to give them that. And then Reinach with the with the knock on the intentional knock with that turned into a penalty try because there was no they determined there was no cover. I think Apey Rachino was there, but he's not the most fleet of foot. So and I think they figured they fact that in. So they figured out it's probably going to be a try.
00:43:29
Speaker
Right. So, you know, give the referees and associates credit. That was a really good set of decision making for them. It was a yeah, it was a wee bit of.
00:43:44
Speaker
Hmm. It was a wee bit of inconsistency from Carly and I believe it was Thomas Young that ended up with an intentional knock that probably should have been a yellow card as well. And he didn't call it. Gave the penalty, but that's it. I was like, you just gave a yellow card for that exact same thing. So, and I know, I think the place on the field in terms of territory was different, but I don't think you can always throw that as the, as the main factor to yellow card to penalty only.
00:44:11
Speaker
It was pretty deliberate. I believe it was Thomas Young that actually did it. Yeah, it was pretty deliberate. I'm sure every Thomas Young owner was praying and hoping that he wouldn't get a yellow card. Please no, please no, please no. But, and I said it, I've said it a couple of times now, we know Northampton and Woodwood Flair. They won with grit this game. Ended up getting big T over. He was close a couple of times and finally shoved himself over.
00:44:41
Speaker
They had Northampton end up with a scrum 10 meters out and take out Nairobo ended up 8 meters over Ended up getting 8 meters out of that and then they end up with another scrum and eventually he got over as well Did get over the line, you know, it's hard to stop that man from less than a meter out Man from anywhere. Yeah, you're inside the 22 Yeah, it's gonna be bad That's why they signed. Yes
00:45:08
Speaker
Yes, absolutely. Thomas Young and Jack Willis both had amazing games for the Wats, you got to give him that. Fakitoa had a brilliant, brilliant individual effort where he yanked the ball from, I don't remember who it was, it might have been Furbank, it might have been Tawala, whoever it was, and off lowered it to, I believe it was Marcus Watson that ended up getting over the line.
00:45:28
Speaker
Um, brilliant effort from him. You know, this is the type of stuff that, uh, wasps have been waiting for him. He's played really well the last couple of weeks and, and stepped up for, for the wasps. I'm sure they were hoping to see this a little bit sooner, but it's here. So, uh, Fakito is definitely somebody that, uh, I would not be, uh, be, be enjoying going against at this point. Uh, he's playing pretty well for himself and done himself a lot more justice than he has in the earlier weeks in the premiership at the very least.
00:45:56
Speaker
So I give him a boatload of credit. Was 31, Northampton 35. Yikes. Northampton, everybody else on the prem, look out. This is going to be interesting to see how they go. Yeah, they're there.
00:46:14
Speaker
They're the scary team as it you know at any point and with the You know, we talked earlier that the gap between two and what was it seven? No, they had the gap between two and eight is so so tight and Yet the Saints, you know are pretty much that they're gonna finish top two more likely That's kind of semi-final at Franklin's gardens. Yeah, that's kind of set that's almost set in stone at this point I know it's still pretty early but
European Rugby Match Previews
00:46:45
Speaker
Damn. There's just too much inconsistency the rest of the way. Those top two teams have two losses. Hey, and the bottom team in the league only has two losses. Wait a minute about that. But everyone else has four or more, and that's huge at this point in the season.
00:47:05
Speaker
So that's their the form that they're playing with, too. And the fact that they're going to have their a lot of their guys, you know, they're going to. Well, especially they have Reinach and they'll have Reinach and Naira Voro throughout the Six Nations and some of their some of their big scores. Right. And this this this Saints team, it's really it's really not that the drop off isn't bad, because if you plug and if you plug and replace the guys that are going to be missing,
00:47:35
Speaker
It's still a fucking good team, right? You know, it's not like it's they drop off that far that they have some interchangeable parts Henry Taylor is gonna be around right and well, I mean I realize he's not He's still a great he's still a good nine to back up Reinach and Proctor will be there and a lot of these guys aren't gonna go anywhere I'm assuming Hutchinson will be gone, but They'll be able to fill in
00:47:59
Speaker
Yeah, they'll know they and you know, they have some If assuming that England goes young you'll probably still see Pierce Francis there. Mm-hmm I would I would anticipate maybe Tamana Harrison goes maybe not I don't know he's kind of an Eddie Jones shit list He's on the short list of players that have been joint yanked early in like before halftime in their England either debuts or early on in their England careers, which is
00:48:24
Speaker
Great omen, but I mean he's playing great. So if you need a Need one of many other loose forwards, he's out there He is an out-and-out date man, which is something that Eddie Jones doesn't always pick outside of Billy So that's usually one thing I would scratch my head Mark Wilson's hurt so that that leaves definitely leaves a door open for somebody at this point at the very least and
00:48:44
Speaker
So we'll see how that goes But this it'll be interesting. I I'll be waiting on pins and needles when those that named that name sheets put out
00:48:57
Speaker
Okay, we're in the Europe. Holy shit. It's back. Yeah, it's back. It's gonna be who and well, we'll talk a little bit about the significant matches as we go through our pick them instead of getting too deep into any of them.
00:49:15
Speaker
And too deep into all of them I should say yeah But yeah, there's some there's some big ones that definitely will be noted and people will definitely be Glued to their couches and and watching or bar stools. What have you? Yeah and Friday the Friday evening matches are the Kind of the little bit of an appetizer, but they're completely meaningless. There's just academic they are so should be at least entertaining to watch them even though they don't mean much and
00:49:44
Speaker
No, I would see the question is now you see so three of those teams are our premiership So you have sail bath harlequins? Mm-hmm all playing on that Friday right meaningless matches essentially much So it'll be interesting to see what they go with as far as lineup
00:50:01
Speaker
Right, uh, yeah, you'll probably see freddy burns for bath. Mm-hmm if if robert deprea is steve german's first choice 10 You'll see aj. You'll see aj. Um, you probably see brett heron for quinn's Um, probably with no mark or james lang possibly if he's as long as he's healthy. I don't know if he's healthy or not Um, so you'll probably see the likes of that lower shell. I don't know what they're gonna put out. Um
00:50:27
Speaker
They're not the type to want to get embarrassed. So especially at home, even though they're bottom of this that particular pool. But we'll see. We'll see what kind of life they put out there. They've they definitely have some talent over there. Rata's obviously who has been.
00:50:44
Speaker
Lighten it up when he's been healthy. So it's it. I hope I get we get to see him because he's just been fun to watch. Yes Yeah sale. Yeah sale. You'll probably see some of the alternate props like Morozov. Mm-hmm If ochres hurt then you probably won't see weber you'll you might see weber anyway But I don't know if you'll see weber you might see like the lights or like I think it's red path Yeah, is he one of the backup sounds right or kneeled? Maybe that's him either way
00:51:11
Speaker
Yeah, so Friday night games while Rochelle hosting sale I will take the French team at home I will say that's usually what they that's usually where they play well And they actually rocked up last time they played in the Champions Cup. Yep and beat Glasgow away from home, which was really strange Yeah, I mean there's a really strange match in general, but you know
00:51:32
Speaker
Whatever. Bath and Quinn's at home. Bath at the bog, as it were. I'll give the Bathmen a little bit of credit, and maybe they win this one ugly like 9-6 or something like that. Yeah, I'm going to do the opposite. I'll go with Quinn's. I'll flip a coin. That way we're not least. Yeah, you need ground to make up anyway. I do. This is usually where ground is made up or lost in this competition.
00:51:58
Speaker
Right. To Saturday, this will be this is one of the more significant games, even though one team is one team isn't Osprey's and Saracens. I would say you'll see like a squad and a half from Saracens and they're probably still going to get five out of this. Yeah.
00:52:15
Speaker
Um sprays are in just such a terrible terrible state right now. It sucks, but that's just how it is and you know, I feel bad for marty mckenzie who came up from new zealand to play for this team and He might be thinking otherwise about this one right now. Uh, you have chosen
00:52:30
Speaker
Yeah, and you know and and whatever Welsh players were gonna play for sprays are about to leave again Yeah, so it's like oh, that's such a headache, right? And I'm sure the Welsh rugby union has told them don't play these guys because that's what they have They have that type of control when you're talking about players that are playing in Wales, right? So yeah Yeah, I mean no brainer goes going with Saracens Even if they only get four tries and they barely beat sprays. It doesn't matter. There's they'll still get the job done. They will I
00:53:00
Speaker
And then Claremont Ulster, this is a tasty wine. Does Claremont show up at home as they always have? And can Ulster mash them? That's going to be the big question. Because we've seen Ulster play brilliantly throughout this competition, both at home and away. But it's going to be a matter of can they figure it out in France, which is a tough place to go always. Yeah, especially at Claremont.
00:53:27
Speaker
Rocking always they and they will definitely rock it. This is gonna I saw a headline this will feel like a final, right? This is really gonna feel like a final and it was only a five-point match Yeah, but Kingsman great so That's they it's hard to to give any you know It's gonna be hard to back Ulster in this one on the road and in the conditions that they're gonna be playing So I'm gonna go with Claremont, okay
00:53:57
Speaker
um oh here's the thing and it's only because they're at home that i'm gonna pick them yeah because they play so brilliantly at home and we've seen them do it twice grand it's been against two teams that are probably not the greatest but
00:54:12
Speaker
So you won't see a complete shit show like they've given these those other two teams But and I love all star and I really hope that they can keep this close and keep a bonus point to it so they can still kind of stay within that Possibility of getting out getting getting themselves over the line in the pool Also, I'm thinking about Harrison selfishly in this one But I do think Claremont are gonna win. I will be cheering for all star, but I do think Claremont will win
00:54:41
Speaker
um Glasgow Exeter this this could have been a bigger match if Glasgow ahead and lead us such a fucking egg against La Rochelle in the last round um right now Exeter probably could get a point and they win the pool right and that and you know I know going up to Scottson is not fun but
00:55:01
Speaker
They're they're they're 10 points. Yeah, they're they're 10 points ahead of of glasgow in the pool So it's not as though you know, they basically glasgow basically have to get five if they want to if They want a shot at women would know would no balance point for exit or at all, right? I don't see that happen. I don't either. I don't either. I think exit or we'll find a way to win this one Again, it's away from home. So you take them however, you can they seem like two teams
00:55:28
Speaker
to me that play the similar style as far as they play much more physical than they do open rugby, which is going to make keep it at least close. But the fact that Glasgow needs so much just to have a chance, they need that five points without that bonus point for Exeter.
00:55:48
Speaker
not seeing that happening. They're going to go for it. And I think that's going to. They're going to go for it. Right. And they're going to play outside there. So what I see is they're going to play outside of their comfort zone, give tries to do shit that they're just not capable of doing. And that's exit are just going to nickel and dime them to death and do their thing, get the penalties, kick to the corner and work it over. Yep. Because we saw Saracens do that to Glasgow in their own in Glasgow last year.
00:56:16
Speaker
Yeah, that was not the prettiest one, but they got the job done and I think I deserve it. But that's Exeter's game. I think they're capable of doing the same thing. Yeah. So that will be the chiefs for me, for sure.
00:56:30
Speaker
Yeah, that was not that was not the prettiest game, but uh got the job done. I remember that one last year Yeah, and then and you know a note from a Saracens fan Uh people would think that I want Exeter to do poorly I don't now, you know, and i'm yeah i'm not a fan of some of the words that have been thrown around since you know The obvious have happened, but at the same time I want Exeter to do well I want more than one team from england to do well I want you know, I want to see other teams do this because
00:56:58
Speaker
You know, really people have just been shitting on England as the Champions Cup goes for a long time outside of Saracens. And I do want Exeter to do well. I feel like this is the last frontier they need to conquer. And as their story is coming from the championship and all that stuff, to see them do this would be amazing. Right. I'd love to see it. And you can see it this year. They have been working on expanding their game outside of that.
00:57:22
Speaker
what i said earlier the kick to the you know the penalty kick to the corner muscle it over they they they've reverted back to that in recent weeks but they have been really trying to expand their game most of the a couple those weeks too so but that's what but that's what they have to do you you're not going to do anything once you've reached the knockout stages in champions cup if all you can do is play for the penalties and bully yourself over right there there's these other teams are are
00:57:49
Speaker
Are too capable of scoring from any place on the field especially like so let's turn to lose Yeah, and and if and I I want exit or do that because I want to see them expand their game, too I want to see them Be better than they are Mm-hmm and and for all the comments. Yes that we've said that have been said from from Baxter I tell you
00:58:12
Speaker
And this is not to be shitting on Baxter, but it's a little bit of a, well, what are you doing to make your team better? If all you do, you have one thing that works. And if that's all you can do, eventually you're going to run into somebody who can match that and do something different and win. Yes. So you have to have a, you know, that's that Mike Tyson, everybody's got a plan until they get punched in the mouth. Absolutely. And an Exeter have that plan that that it works beautifully in the prem. Doesn't work until they get to the knockout stages and
00:58:40
Speaker
Face a team like Saracens or when they get to the Champions Cup and face a team like a a Lenster or something like that who can play an expansive game. So, you know Players don't win championships teams do that's what it comes down to and and and Exeter ignore their backs
00:59:02
Speaker
Yeah, oftentimes. Yes. So I'm with a guy like Stuart Hogg and formerly Santee Cordero, right? And that they just never used, right? It's unfortunate. Yeah, there's a Jack Knoll, right? That's a reason that you're not getting over. Use those guys. Promise you it'll work. The results will be good. They need some, they also need some, some better centers, but that's besides the point. Yeah. Um, but that's still, they could, they could live with what they got. And, and so to say that, you know, oh, they're, they're, they're, you know, they're, they lost champ that they lost championships because.
00:59:33
Speaker
Zary's had anyway, yeah, we're just too far off topic. Yeah digress. Yeah, it was just a shitty comment that I'm still a little oh I heard it too. It has nothing and it has nothing to do with my fandom of Saracens There's plenty of I see that we see this a lot in football. Yes coaches who are like this too and if you have a blind spot you have a blind spot and
00:59:54
Speaker
Indeed so don't don't blame someone else know where it is for doing something that you should be doing yourself as far as Developing your talent and developing your team, right? Another another tricky one Connick and Toulouse. We'll see how this plays out Connick are Actually only third but they had a miraculous one against Gloucester Gloucester to end the last round They're at
01:00:20
Speaker
They're in Galway, so it would be very interesting to see which Toulouse team shows up. Because again, French teams away from home aren't the most brilliant teams to watch. They shut Conak down in their own park.
01:00:36
Speaker
But we saw what Montpelier did in the opening round of this of this competition with in kind and kind Yeah, okay. They weren't pretty but they got they got it done and they played some they played some pretty good rugby on top of that It's it's really hard for me to pick against to lose so I'm not going to And I
01:00:58
Speaker
Yeah, I think of the the you know, the Irish teams Connect are the the weakest Yeah, it's not to say that they're bad. They're just the weakest. They're missing a few a few pieces. That's all right, you know, maybe they'll develop maybe they're developing them and that'll be interesting to see
01:01:16
Speaker
Yeah, so this game is going to come down to whether or not connect can can put together an 80 minute game Um, and then when whether to lose can put together an 80 minute game. Yeah, that's true It's it's who who can get it right at the right times? Fuck I don't want to pick this game because uh Who'd you pick? I picked the french team the french team Tina's wanting the pool right now, man. I'm gonna pick to lose also. Yeah. Okay. I fair enough. Yeah
01:01:45
Speaker
Okay, um Gloucester at King's home against Montpelier again, we just talked about French teams being away from home It's not gonna be great for Montpelier. They won't pick a full-strength squad Neither will Gloucester but at King's home in front of the shed I'll give the cherry and whites the credit. You know what though but but Gloucester are playing for a potential spot in the in the
01:02:10
Speaker
in the knockout stages. In some ways, yeah. They're on the outside looking in right now. But there's nothing that says they can't make it. No. I mean, they are the runner up as of right now. Would they be one of the better runners up? No. But they could easily sneak in there if they put their effort forward. And so I think they're going to. I'm not sure that they're going to. And the way they've been playing the prem is not they're not at their top form. So I don't think they can really
01:02:41
Speaker
take a week off. I don't think they can afford to do it, especially because they're not liable to lose too many players to Six Nations. So it's not as though they need to rest at this point. I think the match is more valuable to them to win than to lose. So I'm going to go with Gloucester. OK, fair enough.
01:03:06
Speaker
And then to the Sunday games there's a couple of a couple that you and I both know will be complete shit shows and there's a couple there's one tasty one that's on the on the app on on the the entree dish dish
Listener Engagement and Podcast Closing
01:03:19
Speaker
there. Lenster, Leon, this is I know Leon, they're up there in top 14, but Lenster just looks so much better in this competition. I don't care if they have sex or not. We saw what they did to Northampton without sex and they're at home again.
01:03:32
Speaker
So whether they're playing this at the Aviva or the RDS, I don't care. I'm back on the blue. The guy's in blue. Yeah. So I'm going to go with Linster. Me too. Yeah. Same. And on that same token, you know, we saw a great game between these two teams, Northampton and Benton in Italy, which was again, it was a fantastic match. Even Northampton put out, you know, James Grayson instead of Dan Bigger, so on and so forth. I still I'll pick Northampton at Franklin's Gardens all day long.
01:04:02
Speaker
I will second that. And then, oh boy, Rassing and Munster. This is huge for so many reasons between Rassing getting themselves over the line to be the winners of the group and Munster not wanting Saracens to catch them.
01:04:26
Speaker
And potentially get a runner-down place because Munster haven't haven't not qualified for the knockout round for the knockout round in a long time I don't remember when the last year was maybe ever but yeah, that would be a huge disappointment for them. So uh, and this is at the uh, that's that weird ass day and that Ross has just
01:04:49
Speaker
It is an advantage for them. It really is unless you're a French team that goes there Which is why to lose probably beat them last year in the in the quarterfinal there Unless you're a French team that goes there on the reg. This is like such a foreign thing for you to go to
01:05:07
Speaker
start de France I think is what it's called sorry if I fucked it up to go to this this this oddity of an arena for rugby and to play in this place I mean you
01:05:22
Speaker
You saw the young Saracen's team that went over there and they were all just like, I have no idea what to do with this fucking place. It was really, it was really a baptism for these for those young guys. So and I know monsters are going to bring some more experienced players more than likely in this match. No, poor guy. I hope he gets better fast. Yeah. He's a good player and I'd hate to see him keep getting hurt like this.
01:05:46
Speaker
Um, so with all that, I mean, you'll see the full, full strength wrestling side, which will include, include the likes of Teddy Tomah and Finn Russell, uh, Anthony Klassen, you know, the, just the big guys that.
01:06:01
Speaker
You would expect to be on that on that team. Um, simon zebo is probably gonna play fullback For them. Yeah, I know right and wanting him off will probably be on the other wing. Um It's uh, it's really hard for me to pick against rossing in that arena It is so i'm so i'm not going to i'm not going to either. Um, maybe monster find a way to get either a losing bonus point or a try bonus I don't know which one. Um, so they can at least try and stay stay pace with
01:06:27
Speaker
Saracen's going into the final weekend, but Rossinger definitely going to be, I believe, the vectors in this match. Yeah, I agree. Well, with that, play a little game of
01:06:43
Speaker
Who do you, who do you think is going to get the runners up at this point? And we won't, we'll, we'll, we'll really dive into it next week when we get down to knowing who the points totals are. Um, well, I mean, really the three, the three best runners up right now include Saracens, which is terrifying because they're in a third place in their pool. I don't know if that counts, but, uh, just cause they're not second, but I don't know. Uh, but anyway, they are, they are one of the top point getters in there. Yeah.
01:07:08
Speaker
competition, they have 10, Munster have 11, Claremont or Vern have 16 as a runner up right now, which means they're probably going to get through the knockout stage either way, no matter what happens this weekend. With that, there's a couple teams at nine, Gloucester is at nine, Lasko's at nine, and Hampton's at nine.
01:07:28
Speaker
Mm-hmm. So unfortunately glass. I don't think glass. I was gonna get more than 10 at least not after this weekend. Yeah, so Put them behind the eight ball a little bit. Yeah after exit or put it put it to them. I Think it's gonna be difficult. I don't think they get a boat at any bonus point. Yeah, so I think they're gonna stay stagnant. Mm-hmm No, thank you. I'm likely to get five so they'll write they'll be on 14. They'll be on 14 Glasgow, I'm sorry classic Gloucester
01:07:55
Speaker
Uh, probably four, probably four, probably four. So that'll put them on 13. And then, you know, assuming the Saracens do what they do and, uh, over in Wales, that'll be 15 for them. Probably Munster, maybe get 12. Maybe. Yeah. Um, Claremont is probably going to get 21, which means ulcers are going to be stuck on 17. So that'll probably make them one of the better runners up. Right. Um, so I would pencil them in for that, uh, that first, so best runners up spot at that point. Right. So looking after this weekend, it's, it's going to be, um, Ulster and Saris are the two.
01:08:25
Speaker
Higher ones the two high ones with with Munster in 15 lost her Northampton
01:08:33
Speaker
And that's it. Which means, and I talked about it, I was listening to our friend Sam talk about it. If the Saracens were to sneak into a quarterfinal, by the time the quarterfinal rolls around, which will be in March, you could see the Saracens not comfortably safe, but in a good position to be safe.
01:08:59
Speaker
Which means they might throw a lot at this champions cup right and see what happens And you know, yeah, they're gonna be away from home. That's that that's no surprise Um, but they've won away from home, right? It's you know, they won the semi-final on their way to their their second one
01:09:16
Speaker
That was a game in Ireland against Munster actually That they were able to pull out and win. So it's not like that they haven't done it before it's less than ideal, you know Nobody wants to go to RDA that have you been playing? No nobody wants to go over to France to play either Rossing or to lose that would be fun to see the Last year's final in the first round though
01:09:57
Speaker
That's funny. Yeah, so we'll see. We'll see what everybody's looking at. Yeah, you know, we're we're we're not Miss Cleo over here. We're not Nostradamus or we're just guessing over here. We're closer to Nostradamus than Nostradamus. Probably. But yeah, until until next week, until we know the results of this. Thanks a lot for coming along, everybody. We really appreciate it.
01:10:02
Speaker
I would, I would, I would, I would, I would, I would, I would, I would, I would, I would, I would, I would, I would, I would, I would, I would, I would, I would, I would, I would,
01:10:22
Speaker
fantasy rugby podcast at gmail.com for questions. Also, if you want in on any of our leagues that we're opening up coming up this week, Spotify, Google Play, Apple Podcast, tune in, find us there, rate us, recommend us to a friend if you're, you know, I think my wife put it well. We at least banter well in the beginning. So if you want to listen to us for like 15 minutes and then and then you decide you can stomach us cool. If not, just, you know, just pass it but pass us along to a friend. We'd appreciate it.
01:10:52
Speaker
And as always on Twitter, hashtag AskTFRY, we're always available. It doesn't have to be day of, week of. I do apologize for the person that asked before the prem kickoff last weekend. I missed it. That was a hundred percent my fault.
01:11:08
Speaker
God damn it, Jared. Yeah, I totally spaced on it. I was like, wait a minute. I hadn't checked it for like half an hour or something like that. I was like, fuck. So I felt terrible. Well, I mean, you have to understand. So this is something we did talk about with Sam a little bit, that this is right in the middle of our work day when the matches kick off. So we do our best. I am trying to do work and not be a complete shitbag. So earlier is better. Yes. Yeah, get to us as fast as possible.
01:11:34
Speaker
If you have a question that and even before like I put out start set or anything like that And yeah, get to us as fast as possible. It's better. It's better for your answers at the very least I know lineups don't come out until about 12 UK time 7 o'clock over here But still get to us as fast as possible if you have a conundrum that you're trying to get to plus we have to think But yeah, so
01:11:59
Speaker
We really appreciate everybody coming along and participating in that such. Thanks again to all the guys that had us on yesterday, so it was really a lot of fun. But other than that, we will talk to you guys next week. Have a good weekend. Enjoy the championship. Cheers.